Pet Scoop: One of Last Five Northern White Rhinos Dies, 600 Baby Sea Turtles Released

July 29, 2015: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Dvůr Králové Zoo

Nabiré, who lived her entire life at the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic, died of a ruptured cyst at age 31.

Rhino Subspecies on Brink of Extinction

The world’s population of northern white rhinoceroses is down to just four after the death of Nabiré, a 31-year-old female who lived at the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic. She died from a ruptured cyst that couldn’t be treated, the zoo announced Tuesday. "It is aterrible loss,” said zoo director Přemysl Rabas. “Nabiré was the kindest rhino ever bred in our zoo. It is not just that we were very fond of her. Her death is asymbol of the catastrophic decline of rhinos due to asenseless human greed." The rhinos face extinction because of poaching and habitat loss. Her death leaves two females and a male living in Kenya, and one female at the San Diego Zoo. — Read it at Live Science

Study: Humpback Whales Make Comeback in Australia

Researchers are recommending humpback whales be removed from the threatened species list in Australia, saying their populations have made a remarkable recovery there. "We highlight a success story, which provides hope and optimism that ongoing conservation actions can prevail,” said Dr. Michelle Bejder of Murdoch University Australia. By downlisting the whales, conservation research and management funding can be redirected to marine species that are at greater risk. The study was published in the journal Marine Policy. — Read it at Science Daily

Hong Kong Panda Becomes World’s Oldest

It’s official: at age 37, Jia Jia now holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest giant panda ever in captivity. She celebrated with a giant ice-and-fruit cake at her home at Hong Kong Ocean Park Tuesday. Jia Jia was born in the wild in China and gifted to Hong Kong in 1999 as part of Britain’s handover of the city. With her age comparable to 100 in human years, she suffers from high blood pressure and cataracts, but she still gets around well. — See photos at Discovery News

AP

More than 600 loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings were released off the coast of Boca Raton, Florida, Monday.

Coast Guard Helps Release Turtles

More than 600 rare loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings were released off the coast of Boca Raton, Florida, Monday by the Coast Guard and officials from the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The 3-inch hatchlings had missed their instinctual dash from their nests to the ocean, so they were collected by the nature center after routine beach nest inspections. In addition to the baby loggerheads, four other young turtles were also returned to their ocean home. The Coast Guard boat searched for more than three hours to find a patch of seaweed to release the turtles. Turtles live the first years of their lives in seaweed. “These guys are little stragglers left behind," said David Anderson, a turtle specialist with the nature center. "We give every turtle a chance." — Read it from the AP via Yahoo

Bear Cubs Play on Golf Course

When they didn’t spot any humans on a golf course in Vernon Township, New Jersey, last week, a bear family decided it looked like a good place to romp around. A series of photos shows two adorable bear cubs frolicking around on the green while their mom waits nearby. “They’re absolutely beautiful and people have seen them in their pools or on their swing sets. It doesn’t surprise me they came out to play on a golf course,” said Vernon Township spokeswoman Michelle Downtain. — See photos at ABC News